Amherst VFW and crossing into the 500s for map miles

Friday morning Lacy and Roger dropped me back off and I was just ready to enter the Iola Sportsman Club area which is a very nice cross country ski area. But first I passed through some private land with some... well, curiosities.

Somebody is a wood worker who should make robots

Hose snake! Don't think it's poisonous

They made the morning a bit more interesting and it was barely holding out on the rain so I fully enjoyed that little section.

Aaron had once again asked where I was at as he was on his way through the area for a wedding. I told him, thinking I'm pretty far north of hwy 10, not really on his path. I was figuring out directions for the road walk and thought the Iola ski area departure area was a driveway, when in fact it was a road, so at the 'road' I turned left thinking I would soon turn right. And as I was bringing up Google maps to check myself since there were no signs I heard a car slow down behind me. All ready to say "hello, and no thank you, I don't need a ride" to a nice passerby (happens a lot - which is kind of awesome!) Instead I turn to see Aaron in his car! Blown away!

Just as he said, little surprises can put the mind in a good mood.

He then drove next to me for about 10 minutes, and I forgot in the excitement to check my GPS. It was an awesome pick-me-up for the day! After he left I remembered I was in the midst of checking my GPS. Sure enough, I went the wrong way. So I ended up retracing my steps. BUT I may not have been on that road anymore when he came by if I had not gone the wrong way, so it was a happy mistake and a total surprise!

With my morning starting so great, even the rain that started, a cold rain, was not dampening my spirits. I was scheduled to get picked up by the Amherst VFW and I had already made it to my pick up point. I was ahead of schedule for the very first time. So I planned to go until 2pm and see how far I could make it. Well, I ended up going about 6 miles past my pick up point got to hwy 161, and was cold and soaked, so I called my VFW pickup contacts.

Raining... Again

Kathy and Marv, once again some of the most welcoming, easy to talk with people picked me up. They informed me of the plan that night and took me to the Amherst Inn Bed and Breakfast. I was chilled by then so I got a hot chocolate and hopped into a warm shower and then under some blankets. It felt good to be picked up so early AND have actually made the desired mileage. For the record, that night I had a total of three cups of hot chocolate. Yum. 

Bob and Tom (no, not the radio hosts) were the owners of the Inn, Tom the amazing chef and Bob the amazing gardener. I later found out they had donated the room for

Not nearly annoying enough to be the radio hosts

Sweet B&B! First of the trip!

me in honor of their family members who had served in the military. Awesome guys. They also informed me that breakfast in the morning would be eggs benedict. Unbeknownst to them I was TOTALLY hoping for eggs benedict! One of my favorite breakfasts! 

Yet another fantastic VFW group!!

At 530 I walked across the street to Ambrosia Pub and Grill and was met again by a great group of VFW members. Tons of questions and conversation especially after some table rearranging. There were all services represented and the ladies once again joined (which I always love when they come out). I ate a gigantic rib eye steak and my belt was happy.

The next morning, after a yummy breakfast chatting with other guests and hearing about the ghosts of the house ;) I was finally on my way. I was procrastinating.

My rescuers from the rain, Kathy and Marv

Kathy and Marv came to pick me up and were kind enough to drop my bag off about 7 miles down the road so I could do my favorite thing for road walks -slack pack. And Kathy had brought me a box of goodies! Some chocolate - my one true love, an apple - yeah for fresh fruit! And a few other goodies. They dropped me off back at Hwy 161 and I was on my way.

I walked, walked, walked and then I met two ladies section hiking! That brings the count up to four devoted IAT hikers. I stuck around them for about three miles and chatted them up. Great ladies, no surprise there ;) 

That night I made it to a small trail cabin which was awesome!! It is a first come first serve cabin and I was the only one. Such a

Saaaawweeeett!

Clean and not buggy

Sad to leave it... Wish there were more of them

good night of sleep and the next morning I didn't get up until 830 or so. It had room for two to sleep up top, (but a small wasp nest was starting so I slept on the bottom). Bigger trails have a lot of sleeping shelters, besides the musty hillbilly hilton, this was the first. Makes me want more!

I got up and got going hike hike hike, and made it to Hartman Creek State Park passed the group camp area that had a big teepee 

Electric, water, a bench! I love it!!

and went over by the restroom to charge my phone, get water, use the bathroom and eat lunch. A group of kids came up and a guy getting water saw my sprawl and I end up talking to this group of adventure camp kids for about 40 minutes! So I had killed about two hours at the park. I had just started hiking

when the sky got dark.... fast. I did a 180 and booked it back to the teepee. I was running but still got soaked by the time I dodged inside.

So many trains!! Long ones! Frac sand is on its way.

Obsolete technology... Feeling a bit old.

Crossing hwy 10!! Holy smokes! I walked here??

Two books in the cabin... One of my favorite authors and one of my favorite childhood books. 

So many pretty flowers!

This baby came right up to me! No momma near by although I pictured Bambi's mom barraling at me. It was soooo cute!! Closest I've ever gotten, didn't touch it. It bayed and then jumped off. It was about 4 feet away.

Turtle in the road! I pushed it across the street in the direction of its travel. Good deed done for the day.